Bill would put time limits on practices, prohibit checking in hockey, lacrosse

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Updated: 5:28 PM EST Mar 7, 2019

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LACROSSE AND CHEERLEADING. >> GO, GO, GO. DAVID: CALLING TIME OUT IN THE NAME OF SAFETY IN YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS. -- SPORTS PROGRAMS LEGISLATION , RESTRICTING EVERYTHING FROM THE LENGTH OF PRACTICE TO PROHIBITING CHECKING IN HOCKEY AND LACROSSE IS NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION IN ANNAPOLIS. >> WE WANT TO MINIMIZE INJURY. SPORTS ARE A TERRIFIC THING AND WE WANT OUR KIDS TO PARTICIPATE AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN THEY DO SO THEY ARE NOT RISKING ANY LONG-TERM DAMAGE. DAVID: THOSE 14 AND YOUNGER OR IN THE 8TH GRADE OR LOWER FOOTBALL SEASON WOULD BE LIMITED , TO AUGUST THROUGH DECEMBER. PRACTICE WOULD BE LIMITED TO 30 MINUTES IN FULL-CONTACT FOOTBALL FOR A MAXIMUM OF TWO HOURS EACH WEEK DURING PRESEASON, 90 MINUTES EACH WEEK DURING THE SEASON. THERE WOULD BE NO CHECKING IN HOCKEY OR LACROSSE. IT PROHIBITS CHEERLEADERS 12 YEARS AND YOUNGER FROM ENGAGING IN AERIAL STUNTS. THOSE 10 YEARS OR YOUNGER MAY ONLY PARTICIPATE IN AERIAL TOSSING ONE PRACTICE SESSION PER WEEK IN A SEASON THIS FAMIL. PARENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO DECIDE WHICH SPORTS THEIR KIDS PLAY. DAVID: PATRICK IS CONCERNED THE BILL WAS SIDELINE HIM. >> I WILL BE VERY SAD. DAVID: THE BILL REQUIRES ATHLETES TO USE PROPER HEAD AND MOUTH GEAR. COACHES MUST UNDERGO TRAINING TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HARM. PATRICK DOUBTS HIS LEVEL OF PLAY WOULD LEAD TO A CONCUSSION. >> WE ARE NOT TOO STRONG, WE DON’T HIT TOO HARD. DAVID: THE BILL’S SPONSOR SAYS THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. HE IS WORKING WITH YOU GORE -- YO

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Maryland bill designed with intent to make youth sports safer

Bill would put time limits on practices, prohibit checking in hockey, lacrosse

A bill designed to make youth sports safer is making its way through the Maryland General Assembly.The bill would limit football seasons for kids age 14 and under and puts time constraints on full-contact football practice. The legislation would also prohibit checking in hockey and lacrosse."We want to minimize injury. Sports are a terrific thing, and we want our kids to participate as fully as possible, and we want to make sure, when they do so, they are not risking any long-term damage," said the bill's sponsor, Delegate Terri Hill, D-Baltimore and Howard counties. Hill is a physician.Football seasons for children 14 and younger or in the eighth-grade or lower would be limited to August through December. Practice would be limited to 30 minutes in full-contact football, for a maximum of two hours each week during preseason and 90 minutes each week during the regular season.The bill would also prohibit cheerleaders age 12 and younger from engaging in aerial stunts. Those 10 or younger may only participate in aerial tossing during one practice session per week in a season.The Flatley family, from Sykesville, opposes the measure. Rachel Flatley and her 11-year-old son, Patrick, were in Annapolis on Thursday to testify against the bill."I think it is an intrusion into parents' rights. I think parents should have the ability to decide which sports kids play," Rachel Flatley said.Patrick Flatley, who plays lacrosse and football, is concerned the bill will sideline him."I would be very sad because those are my two favorite things to do outside my normal life," he said.The bill would require young athletes to use the proper head and mouth gear. The bill would also mandate that coaches undergo training to minimize the risk of harm, which includes training in the policies for removal from play and returning to play, and in recognizing heat-related illness.Patrick doubts his level of play would lead to a concussion."We are not too strong. We don't hit too hard. We know Heads Up Football," he said.The bill sponsor said the proposal remains a work in progress. She's working with youth organizations, coaches and trainers to further tweak the bill while it's still in committee.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. —

A bill designed to make youth sports safer is making its way through the Maryland General Assembly.

The bill would limit football seasons for kids age 14 and under and puts time constraints on full-contact football practice. The legislation would also prohibit checking in hockey and lacrosse.

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"We want to minimize injury. Sports are a terrific thing, and we want our kids to participate as fully as possible, and we want to make sure, when they do so, they are not risking any long-term damage," said the bill's sponsor, Delegate Terri Hill, D-Baltimore and Howard counties. Hill is a physician.

Football seasons for children 14 and younger or in the eighth-grade or lower would be limited to August through December. Practice would be limited to 30 minutes in full-contact football, for a maximum of two hours each week during preseason and 90 minutes each week during the regular season.

The bill would also prohibit cheerleaders age 12 and younger from engaging in aerial stunts. Those 10 or younger may only participate in aerial tossing during one practice session per week in a season.

The Flatley family, from Sykesville, opposes the measure. Rachel Flatley and her 11-year-old son, Patrick, were in Annapolis on Thursday to testify against the bill.

"I think it is an intrusion into parents' rights. I think parents should have the ability to decide which sports kids play," Rachel Flatley said.

Patrick Flatley, who plays lacrosse and football, is concerned the bill will sideline him.

"I would be very sad because those are my two favorite things to do outside my normal life," he said.

The bill would require young athletes to use the proper head and mouth gear. The bill would also mandate that coaches undergo training to minimize the risk of harm, which includes training in the policies for removal from play and returning to play, and in recognizing heat-related illness.

Patrick doubts his level of play would lead to a concussion.

"We are not too strong. We don't hit too hard. We know Heads Up Football," he said.

The bill sponsor said the proposal remains a work in progress. She's working with youth organizations, coaches and trainers to further tweak the bill while it's still in committee.